Cash register



July 21, 1936. W/H. ROBERTSON CASH REGISTER Filed Jan. 27. 1930 16 Sheets-Sheet 1 glwoantox William H. Robertson y 1936- I w. H. ROBERQIV'SON 2,048,200

CASH REGISTER Filed Jan. 27. 1930 l6 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuemtot William H. Robertson By h Hi! atto'cmq y 1936. w. H. ROBERTSON 2,048,200

CASH REGISTER Filed Jan. 27. 1930 16 Sheets-Sheet 3 William H. Rebel-hon July 21, 1936. w. H. RoERTsoN 2,048,200

CASH REGISTER Filed Jan. 27. .1950 16 Sheets-Sheet 4 'lwuentoz William H. Robertson y WW July 21, 1936. w, H, RQBERTSQN 2,048,200

CASH REGISTER Filed Jan. 27. 1950 16 SheetsSheet 5 a9 IIIIIIIIII William H. Robertson July 21, 1936. w. H. ROBERTSON 2,048,200 0 CASH REG ISTER gnwntoo William H. Roberuon July 21, 1936 w. H. ROBERTSON 2,048,200

CASH REGISTER Filed Jan. 27. 1930 16 Sheets-Sheet '7 FIG. 1a

gnueufot William H. Robcrbun album July 21, 1936.

v'v. H. ROBERTSON 2,048,200

CASH REGISTER Filed Jan. 27. 1950 16 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG-.14

JYVUQ'I 1f 01, William H. Robertson M viii/13W: I All III July 21, 1936. w. H. ROBERTSON CASH REGISTER Filed Jan. 27. 1930 16' Sheets-Sheet 9 FIG. 17

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Miami 001.35 THE?- IBHNOV 9AM 5 29 TEEMEGRAM Pl act 51nd and No.

Lino! lllnu um July 21, 1936. w. H. ROBERTSON CASH REGISTER Filed Jan. 27. 1930 16 Sheets-Sheet 10 July 21, 1936. w. H. ROBERTSON CASH REGISTER Filed Jan. 27. 1930 16 Sheets-Sheet 11 gnuenloz William H. Reba-hon Hh afl'mueq w. H. ROBERTSON CASH REGISTER July 21, 1936.

Filed Jan. 27. 1930 16 Sheets-Sheet l2 gwumflor William H. 'Robertaon Hi. artozncq July 21, 1936. w. H. RoER'rsoN CASH REGISTER Filed Jan. 27. 1930 16 S, heetsSheet 13 FIG.27 2% 600 also gwoenlov William H. Robertson:

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July 21, 1936.

W. H. ROBERTSON CASH REGISTER l6 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Jan. 27. 1930 new FIG.32

Kb attov wq July 21, 1936. w. H. ROBERTSON cAsH anexs'mn Filed Jan. 27. 19:50

1e Sh eets-Sheet 15 V FIG. 40

FIG. 39

gmwntoo William H. Robu'hon In] awommq VA v Z N hnZnhah-hn**on 50505500 105107 Patented July 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE cssn nears-rm Application January 21, 1930, Serial No. 423,122

42 Claims.

This invention relates to registering or accounting machines, and has more particular relation to machines of the type disclosed in the application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 419,938, flied January 10, 1930, by William H. Robertson, and in Letters Patent of the United States Nos. 1,816,263, 1,924,290, and 1,929,652 issued respectively July .28, 1931, August 29, 1933,-

and October 10, 1933, to William H. Robertson.

The machines disclosed in the above mentioned patents and appllcations are provided with the usual elements, such as totalizer-s, indicators, keyboard, diflerential mechanism, printing mechanism, etc. The chief characteristic of this type of machine is the compact arrangement of the several elements and the general adaptability oi the machine to a wide range of uses, thus being admirably suited for use in retail stores, restaurants, department stores, motor buses, electric railways and other media of transportation, ticket oflices, public utility oflices, including telegraph oiiices, etc., and other commercial houses.

This invention is more-specifically an improvement on the machine disclosed in the Robertson Patent No. 1,924,290, inasmuch as both it and the machine of the present application are adapted particularly for use in telegraph ofllces. However, the instant invention also embodies improvements in certain of the structures disclosed in the application of Robertson, Serial No. 419,938.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide novel mechanism to select automatically any one of a plurality of .totalizers, whereas in the prior machines of this type, it was necessary to resort to manually operated mechanism to select the desired totalizer, either by means of a lever, or by the act of depressing selection keys.

Another object is the elimination of a manually-operated conditioning means, and the substitution of a key-set conditioning means to condition the machine to make reading or resetting operations.

Still another object is to provide mechanism in a machine of the type disclosed in the above mentioned applications to compel the transfer of the total or totals from certain of the totalizers into a grand totalizer when such certain totalizers are cleared.

A further object is to provide a novel non-add means to disable the totalizer engaging mechanism and parts of the printing mechanism.

A still further object is the provision of novel key-set means to control the machine to perform adding. sub-total, and total operations.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention includes certain novelfeatures of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims and a preferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of the machine encased in its cabinet and having a blank form inserted in the slip chute.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view showing in right elevation a bank of amount keys and an amount diiferential unit.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view showing in right elevation the bank of transaction keys and the unit of differential mechanism associated therewith.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the transaction bank differential mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a detail view-of the mechanism for stopping the transaction diflerential in the grand total position on transfer total operations.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the mechanism for operating the transaction differential aligner and for engaging and disengaging the totalizer on reset operations.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the coupling pini'on auxiliary engaging means.

Fig. 8 is a view in front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a view in right elevation of the non-add key and of the amount key releasing mechanism.

'Fig. 10 ms detail view of the cam and cam arm for engaging the totalizer on sub-totalizing operations.

Fig. 11 is a detail view of the cam and cam arm for engaging the totalizer on adding operations.

Fig. 1.2 is a transverse sectional view taken 4 through the machine just inside the right side frame.

Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view taken immediately outside the left side frame of the machine and looking away from the machine. The left side frame is indicated by dot-and-dash hues in this figure.

Fig. 14 is a detail view of the diiferential mechanism operated under the control of the conditioning keys to adjust automatically the total control lever.

Fig. 15 is a detail view in front elevation, partly in section, of the control diflerential drive and coupling means.

Fig. 16 is a view in front elevation of a part of the control differential.

Fig. 17 is a detail view of the restraining and restoring rod operating mechanism.

Fig. 18 is a detail view of the means for looking the transaction keys when the control lever is moved out of its adding position.

Fig. 19 is a top plan view of the interspersed totalizers and the totalizer shifting cam.

Fig. 20 is a facsimile of a conventional telegram blank form showing the position of the printed amount and other data, as printed by the machine of the present invention.

Fig. 21 isa detail view of the mechanism for compelling a transfer-total operation following certain totalizing operations.

Figs. 22 and 23 are detail views of a part of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 21.

Fig. 24 is a view in front elevation of the main drive shaft and a part of the driving mechanism.

Fig. 25 is a view in right elevation of the printing mechanism used in connection with the machine.

Fig. 26 is a detail view of the transaction type wheel aligner and its operating mechanism.

Fig. 27 is a view in front elevation of the 3" group of detail record type wheels.

Fig. 28 is an enlarged detail view of the printing hammers and the operating mechanism therefor.

Fig. 29 is an enlarged fragmentary view in rear elevation of the slip printing hammers.

Fig. 30 is a detail view in right elevation of the slip printing hammers and their operating mechanism Fig. 31 is a view in side elavation of certain of the hammers appearing in Fig. 29.

Fig. 32 is afragmentary detail view of the consecutive number advancing means.

Fig. 33 is a detail view of the transaction type wheels and the aliner therefor.

Fig. 34 is a detail view of the consecutive number control means.

Fig. 35 is a view in front elevation of the slip consecutive numbering devices.

Fig. 36 is adetail view of the consecutive number operating and disabling means.

Fig. 37 isa detail view of the consecutive num ber drive disabling means.

Fig. 38 is a fragmentary view of one of the consecutive number type wheel advancing means.

Fig. 39 illustrates a facsimile fragment of the "B" detail record strip.

Fig. 40 illustrates a facsimile fragment of the A" detail record strip.

General description The appearance of the machine disclosed in the present application is generally characterized by its compactness and the accessibility of the controls. It is encased in a suitable cabinet; through the upper right-hand corner of whichextends a slip chute adapted to receive a blank telegram form, or other suitable record material, upon which printed impressions are to be made. Reference is made above and throughout the specification to telegram blanks, because the machine disclosed herein is arranged for use in telegraph oflices. It is to be understood, however, that the machine is readily susceptible to many other uses, certain of which are indicated from ,trol of the amount and transaction keys to disgram, cable, etc.. and to the right, a bank of transaction keys to select any one of the plurality of totalizers with which the machine is provided. To the left, and slightly removed from the main keyboard, is a group of two control keys, 5 namely, a "Read" key to control the printing of sub-totals on the totalizers, and a Total" key to control the printing of totals on the totalizers and resetting of the selected totalisers to zero. A "Non-Add" key projects through the cabinet imt below the group of control keys. By use of thh key amounts may be printed and indicated,

but not accumulated in the totalizer.

opening in the cabinet. Also, all of the keys excepting the Non-Add" key are flexible, that is, depression of a key in any bank releases the key 20 already depressed in that bank.

After the proper amount and transaction keys are depressed, or, in case the operation is to be a totalizing operation, the proper control key is depressed and the machine is'released for opera- 25 tion by depressing a starting bar projecting through the cabinet to the right of and spaced apart from the main keyboard.

Such machines are usualy operated by suitable electric motors. or in event of failure of the elec- 30 tric current, the machine may be operated manually by a crank provided for that purpose and located at the right side of the machine.-

Indicators are provided and are set under con- 35 play the amount and character of a transaction being recorded toward the front and rear of the machine through suitable sight openings in the cabinet.

Various doors and closable openings are arranged in the cabinet to provide access to the printing mechanism, to replenish the supply of record material and to the motor to replace blown fuses, or to make other necessary adjustof varyingnumbers of cycles, each of the operations being for a diiferent purpose.

An accumulating operation comprises a single cycle to add amounts onto a selected totalizer, and print said amount and other data on the 6 insertable slips and on record strips.

'Ibtalising operations comprise two cycles, the first cycle being merely a preparing cycle; the total or sub-total, depending upon which of the conditioning keys is depressed, being taken from the selected totaliser during the second cycle of a totalizing operation.

"Transfer total operations" comprise three cycles. The first two cycles of a'transfer total operation are the same as those for totalizing operations. In addition, mechanism is set by depression of the total key to control the machine to make a third cycle of operation during which the total taken from a totalizer on the second cycle is reaccumulated on the grand totalizer 7s automatically selected at the beginning of the third cycle.

It is to be understood that the two and threecycle operations are continuous, that is, the machine does not stop at the end of each cycle, but continues operating through two or three cycles, depending upon which control or conditioning key is depressed. Means is provided to restrain the mechanism, which normally operates to stop the machine at the end of a cycle, from functioning on multiple-cycle operations until the end of the last cycle.

The printing mechanism is located at the right end of the machine and is enclosed in the machine cabinet. It prints the amount, a symbol indicating the classification of transaction, a sybmol identifying the operator, a symbol identifying the kind of operation, and the consecutive number, on one of a pair of detail record strips selected under control of the particular transaction key depressed. These data are also printed on the inserted telegram blank, and in addition, the date, time, and a machine index number (there being several machines used in the larger offices) are printed near the top of the blank. The printing mechanism does not issue a receipt or check, the only printing, aside from the detail record strips, being on the blank telegram form or other suitable record material inserted inthe chute provided for that purpose in the upper right-hand corner of the cabinet.

Main frame work The main body of the machine is supported in a frame work comprising a right side frame 30 (Figs. 12, 16, 19 and 24.), and a left side frame 3| (Figs. 2, 3, 9, 13, 16 and 19) mounted on a base (not shown), and joined by a back frame 32 (Figs. 2 and 3), and a cross bar 33 (Figs. 2 and 3) located at the front and lower part of the machine. A cabinet or casing 34 (Fig. 1) having suitable openings for the keys, operating crank, key release lever, and other control members, and sight openings for the indicators, etc., encloses the machine and is secured to the base (not shown). The entire machine is mounted on another base 35 (Fig. 1).

tion and operator identifying characters.

A total key-33 is located in the lowermost position in the bank of transaction keys to control the selection of the grand totalizer.

A non-add key 39 (Figs. 1 and 9) is also located to the left of and opposite thelower portion of the amount keyboard. This non-add key 35 differs in form and operation from the remainder of the keys in the present invention, in that the amount keys 36, the transaction keys 31-, and

the total key 38 are known as press-in" keys, while the non-add" key 39 is known as a pressdown" key. This difference will be brought out more fully later in the specification.

A group of keys comprising a sub-total" key 40 (Figs. 1, 13, 14 and 21) and a Totai" key 4|,

tor and frees the mechanism for operation, it

being necessary first to depress one of the transaction keys 31 or the total key 38.

Amount bank The amount keys are the same in structure and in operation as the amount keys disclosed in the above-mentioned Robertson applications.

The keys 36 (Fig. 2) of each of the several banks of amount keys are slidably mounted in a key frame 43 shown partly broken away for clearness, having its upper end supported on a cross rod 44, and its lower end supported on a cross rod 50. Both cross rods extend between the main side frames 30 and 3| of the machine. Each of the keys 36 is provided with a spring (only one being shown) coiled about its shank to normally hold the keys in their undepressed position, and to return the depressed-keys to their undepressed position when they are released.

Each of the amount keys 36 carries a laterally projecting key pin 52, which, upon depression of its key, wipes along the beveled edge of a shouldered projection 53 on a flexible detent bar 54, slidable on studs 55 and 56 in the frame 43. There are as many projections 53 as there are keys 36, and the pin 52, as it wipes by its associated projection 53, slides the detent bar 54 toward the left against the tension of a restoring spring 51. When the key pin 52 has passed the shoulder on the projection 53, the spring 51 returns the detent bar 54 toward the right to hook the shoulder'of its projection over the key pin 52 of the depressed key, thus retaining the key in depressed position until another key 36 in the same "bank is depressed, or until the detent bar 54 is shifted toward the left to release the depressed key, as will be described later. When the key pin is released from the detent bar 54, the spring 5| returns the key to its normal undepressed position.

Each of the banks of amount keys is provided with a locking bar 53 (Fig. 2) slidable on the studs 55 and 56 to lock the depressed amount key in its depressed position and the undepressed amount keys against depression during operation of the machine. Mechanism, to be described later, is operated as soon as the machine is released for operation, to shift the locking bar 58 upwardly and toward the right to engage hooked projections 59 thereon with the key pins 52, the projection associated with the depressed key passing above the key pin 52 on this key to hold it in depressed position, and the projections associated with the remainder of the keys'passing beneath the pins 52 to prevent depression of the undepressed keys during the operation of the machine. A restoring spring 50 normally holds the locking bar 58 in its normal position with the upper walls of the slots therein bearing against their respective studs 55 and 56.

Mechanism to be later described, operates near the end of the operation to shift both the detent bar 54 and the locking bar 53 toward the left to yance the segment.

free the depressed key, which is immediately restored to its normal undepressed position by its spring 5|.

Each bank of amount keys is provided with a zero stop arm 6| (Fig. 2) pivoted on a stud 82 in the key frame 43, to stop the differential mechanism at zero position when the machine is operated with no key depressed in the particular bank or banks. A spring 83 normally holds the stop arm 6| against a stop stud 64 projecting laterally from the detent bar 54. When the detent bar is shifted by depression of one of the keys 86, the stud 64 cams the stop arm 6| clockwise against the tension of a restoring spring 68 to ineffective position.

When the depressed key 36 is released near the end of the operation, and the detent bar 54 is restored to its normal position, the spring 63 rocks the zero stop arm 6| counter-clockwise to its normal position.

Amount difierential The amount keys 86 control differential mechanisms to set indicators and type carriers and to add amounts on the totalizer selected under control of the transaction keys. The amount differentials are mounted on a rock shaft 65 (Fig. 2) journaled in the side frames as and 3| of the machine. Since all of the amount difierentials are alike, it is thought that the description of one will be suiilicient.

Depression of one of the keys 86 thrusts its inner end into the path of a stop bar I, slidabLv supported on studs 61 carried by a differentially movable adding segment 88 pivoted on the rock shaft 5. There is one segment 88 for each bank of amount keys, and one overflow segment. The key 86, when depressed, also displaces the zero stop arm 6|, which normally prevents advance of the adding segment 68 beyond its zero position. A spring-pressed retaining pawl 88, pivoted on the inner one of the studs 1, holds the stop bar 66 in one of its positions.

A universal rod l5,- carried by arms 18 and 14 (Figs.2 and 4) fast on the rock shaft 85, normally restrains the add-ing ment 8 against the influence of a spring I1, which tends to ad- The universal rod II is operated at the proper time during the operation of the machine by a pair of cams l8 and 18 (Fig.. 17)

fast on a drive shaft 88, journaled in the machine side frames and 8|.

The cams l8 and 18 rock a bell crank lever 8|, pivoted on a stud 82, projecting laterally from the side frame 8|, first counter-clockwise, and then clock-wise to normal through a constant extent of travel. Teeth 83 on one arm of the bell crank lever 8|, mesh with teeth 84 on a disk secured home position.

As. the cams i8 and 18 rock the universal rod 15 clockwise, the toothed adding segment 68 advances withthe rod I5 under the influence of the spring 11 until it is arrestedby the inner end of the depressed key or by the zero stop arm 6|.

The universal rod 15, however, completes its clockwise stroke.

Indicator segments 88 are provided to'set the indicators differentially to their new positions, as determined by the particular set up on the keyboard. The indicator segments 88 are normally coupled to the adding segments 68 by broad coupling pinions 86.

Before the adding segment 68 can be set under the control of the depressed key 88 or the aero stop arm, and before the indicator segment 88 can be restored to zero position, it is necessary to disengage the coupling pinions 86 from those segments.

The pinions 88 are pivoted on a rod 81 carried by arms 88 (only one of which is shown) fast on a shaft 88, journaled in the machine side frames and 3|. The pinions 88 mesh with the adding segments 68 and. with the indicator' segments 88, also pivoted on the rock shaft 65.

At the beginning of the operation of the machine, just before the adding segment 08 commences its clockwise movement, mechanism disclosed in Figs. 12, 13' and 14, rocks the coupling pinions out of mesh with the segments 68 and 98, to disconnect these-segments so that when the spring Ti advances the adding segment 88 clockwise under the control of the rod II, the indicator segment 9|).may be restored to zero position by the universal rod II on its clockwise travel.

The coupling pinions are disengaged from and re-engaged with the segments 08 and 88 by a cam groove 9| inv a cam," (Fig. 12) fast on the drive shaft 8|). The groove 8| embraces a roller 93' on a totalizer engaging arm 84 fast on the shaft I00 supported in the machine side frames. Counter-clockwise rotation of the cam 92 rocks the totaiizer engaging lever 84 and the shaft I clockwise. A link Ill (Figs. 13 and 21) connects an arm I82 journaled on the shaft III to an arm I83 fast on the pinion shaft 89. The upper end of the. arm i8! is bifurcated to embrace a coupling stud I projecting laterally from a link ill, depending from the free end of an arm I of a control lever lll pivoted on a stud I88 projecting from the side frame 8|. The coupling stud I84 also projects through the hooked end of an arm I08 fast on the shaft I88, thereby normally coupling the arms I02 and I so that they move in unison.

aligner comb Ill secured to the back frame 88 to hold the pinions against rotation while disengaged from the segments, thereby insuring proper meshing when the pinions are re-engaged with the segments.

As the toothed adding segment 68 travels clockwise under the influence of its spring 11, an ear HI-on the stop bar 66 strikes the inner end of the depressed key, thereby arresting the toothed adding segment 68. The restraining and restoring rod 15 continues its clockwise travel to restore the indicator segment 80 to its home. pc-

sition, and, as soon as this segment reaches its home position, the cam 92 (Fig. 12) actuates the coupling pinion operating mechanism to re-" engage the coupling pinions-'86 with their respective segments 68 and 8l.-';An arm 18 Figs. 7 and 24), also fast near the center of the shaft I80, engages the shaft 81 on the counter-clockwise movement of the shaft ill to prevent twisting of the shaft 81 due to the application of the power by arm I82 (Fig. 21) and link I" to one 

